Folding davenport.



G. W. HENRY. FOLDING DAVENPORT. APPLICATION FILED J'AN. 24, 1911.

996,243; Pate ted June 27, 1911.

2 BHEETS-SHEE'I 1.

121 mm I 1.

G. W. HENRY,

FOLDING DAVENPORT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 24, 1911.

Patented June 27, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

SAT

i FTQE.

FOLDING DAVENPORT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 27, 1911.

Application filed January 24, 1911. Serfal No. 604,353.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUILFORD TV. HENRY, a citizen of the United States,residing at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Folding Davenports, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding davenpoits, couches, and otherarticles of furniture that comprise a member or part which is adapted tobe shifted into an inoperative position where it is concealed from view.

One object of my invention is to provide mechanism of novel constructionfor operating theshiftable part or element of a piece of furniture ofthe character described.

Another object is to provide a folding davenport or couch which is sodesigned that there is no liability of the mattress support dropping orbecoming accidentally displaced. And still another object is to providea folding davenport which is so designed that the curtain or piece ofmaterial which extends across the front of the davenport below the seatis prevented from wrinkling when the davenport is unfolded or being usedas a bed.

Other objects and desirable features of my invention will be hereinafterpointed out.

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a portion of a folding davenportconstructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a verticaltransverse sectional view of same; Fig. 3 is a similar view showing thedavenport unfolded; Fig. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional viewtaken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevationalView of one of the cam plates on the seat frame and the toggle-operatinglever which cooperates with said plate; Figs. 6 and 7 are similar viewsshowing said cam plate and lever arranged in different positions; Fig. 8is a sectional view taken on the line 88 of Fig. 7 Fig. 9 is a detailsectional View taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 2; Figs. 10 and 11 aredetail views showing a slight modification that can be made in the legswhich support part of the mattress frame; Figs. 12 and 13 are enlargeddetail views of part of the mechanism that automatically turns the lowercross-piece at the front of a davenport to which the curtain. isconnected; and Fig. 14 is a SC il0Il l View on the line 1414 of Fig. 13.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate the preferred form of myinvention, A designates the end frames of the davenport which may be ofany preferred design and construction, 1 designates the seat, and 2designates the back.

The mattress support consists of two sections or frames 3 and 4 arrangedin such a manner that they lie close together in the same horizontalplane when the davenport is unfolded, as shown in Fig. 3. Said framesare preferably constructed from commercially rolled angle iron, and theframe 3 supports the seat 1 when the davenport is closed or in itsfolded position, as shown in Fig. 2, the seat 1 being securely connectedto the frame 3, and the ends A of the davenport being provided with twocastings G on which the frame 3 rests. The frame 3 is provided with twocam plates B whichare pivot-ally connected to the end frames A of thedavenport so that said frame 3 can be swung upwardly and outwardly intothe position shownin Fig. 3, the frame being supported in this positionby means of legs 6 connected to the free end of the frame. The frame 4which forms the other half of the mattress-supporting means lies underthe frame 3 when the davenport is closed or folded, as shown in Fig. 2,but when the davenport is opened, namely, when the seat 1 and frame 3are turned over, the under frame 4 moves upwardly automatically into thesame horizontal plane as the frame 3.

Two castings C which are connected to the inner sides of the end framesA are provided with studs 7 that pass through holes in the cam plates Band thus pivotally connect the frame 3 to the end frames A, and saidcastings are also provided with vertically disposed guides 8 thatcooperate with guide plates 9 on the under frame 4. The guide plates 9project upwardly from the side pieces of the frame 4 and each guideplate is provided with a substantially channel-shaped verticallydisposed member 10 whose legs are provided with inwardly projectingflanges 10 that fit in grooves in the guides 8, said guides 8 beingsubstantially T-shape in cross section, as shown in Fi 4.

The means for automatically moving the frame 4 upwardly when the frame 3is turned over, consists of levers 11 fulcrumed on the studs 7 whichsupport the cam plates B, a toggle cooperating with each of said leversand consisting of a link 12 pivotally connected at its lower end to thecasting and a link 13 pivotally connected at its upper end to the guideplate 9, and a short link 14: that connects both of the toggle links 12and 13 to the inner end of the lever 11, said link 13 having a stop 13that limits the movement of the link 14;. The opening in the lever 11,through which the stud 7 or fulcrum for the lever passes, issubstantially key-hole-shaped, as shown in Fig. 5, and the portion ofthe stud 7 which lies in said opening has two flat faces or sides 7.When the davenport is closed, as shown in Fig. 2, the studs 7 lie in thestraight contracted portions 11 of the openings in the levers 11 andthus lock said levers and the parts controlled by same owing to the factthat the fiat faces 7 on the studs fit snugly against the straight edgesof the contracted portions 11 of the stud openings in the levers, asshown in Fig. 5. When the seat-supporting frame 3 is raised and movedoutwardly, cam faces 15 on the cam plates 13 strike against pins 16 onthe levers 11, as shown in Fig. 6, when said frame reaches a certainposition, and shift the levers 11 relatively to the cam plates so as toarrange the studs 7 in the enlarged portions 11 of the stud openings inthe levers, thereby releasing the levers 11. Further movement of the camplates in this direction causes the levers 11 to swing upwardly andstraighten the toggle links 12 and 13 which elevate the frame 4, thepins 16 on the levers moving into the notches 17 in the cam plates Bwhen said cam plates and levers reach the position shown in Fig.

, 7. In view of the fact that the pins 16 lie in the notches 17 in thecam plates, the levers 11 and toggle links 12 and 13 are securely lockedin position when the seat 1 and frame 3 are turned over, as shown inFig. 3. Consequently, it will be impossible for the frame 4, which formspart of the mattress-supporting means, to drop or move downwardly out ofhorizontal alinement with the frame 3 when the davenport is unfolded 01'open. Furthermore, said frame 4 is locked even when the frame 3 istilted upwardly slightly from the position shown in Fig. 3 because thenotches 17 in the cam plates are so proportioned that the pins 16 do notpass completely out of same until after the frame 3 has been raisedquite a distance. This is a very desirable feature of a foldingdavenport for it is often necessary to raise the front frame 0 slightlywhen the davenport is open either to clear objects or to reach undersaid frame. When the frame 3 is raised and moved inwardly, back to itsclosed position, the levers 11 swing downwardly and thus close thetoggles which support the frame 4: in its elevated position, the levers11 being shifted relatively to the fulcrum studs 7 so as to arrange saidstuds in the contracted portions 7 of the stud openings in the levers bymeans of cam faces 13 on the cam plates B that engage the pins 16 on thelevers after said cam plates have moved a certain distance.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the mattress-supporting means ofmy improved davenport is securely locked in adjusted position when thedavenport is open so that it is impossible for one portion of saidsupporting means to drop or move out of the horizontal plane in. whichthe other portion of said means lies. The mechanism which operates andguides the frame 1 is strong, efficient and inexpensive to manufacture,and while I have herein shown said mechanism used for operating oneportion of the mattresssupporting means of a folding davenport, I wishit to be understood that it is not limited to this use for it could beused equally well in various other articles of folding furniture thatcomprise a part or element which is hidden from view when the furnitureis closed.

A curtain or piece of fabric 19 which is arranged at the front of thedavenport is connected to the front edge of the seatframe 3 and to thelower front cross-piece 20 of the frame of the davenport, and means isprovided for preventing said curtain from tearingor becoming wrinkledwhen the davenport is opened, said means consisting of pivots for theends of the cross-piece 20 and means for automatically turning saidcrosspiece from a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 1, into ahorizontal position, as shown in Fig. 3, so as to take up the slack inthe curtain 19 when the davenport is opened. Brackets 21 which areconnected to the inner side of the cross-piece 20, are pivotallyconnected at 22 to the castings C on the end frames of the davenport,and levers 23 which are pivotally connected at 2a to said end castings,are pivotally connected by means of short links 25 to the brackets 21,each of said levers cooperating with one of the cam plates B and beingmoved by same. The

upper end of each lever 23 is provided with a forwardly projectingcurved extension 23 and the cam plates B are provided with curvedportions or lugs 26 that fit in said curved extensions when thedavenportis closed and thus securely lock the levers 23 and the lowercross-piece 20 which said levers actuate. When the davenport is beingopened cam faces 27 on the cam plates B engage the levers 23 just belowthe fulcrums of said levers and move the lower ends of said leversinwardly, thereby causing the lower cross-piece 20 to turn into ahorizontal position and thus automatically taking up the slack in thecurtain 19. hen the davenport is being closed said cam plates movelevers and cam said levers 23 in the opposite direction back to normalposition, the movement of the cross-piece 20 being limited by means ofstops 28 on the end casting C that cooperate with shoulders 29 on thebrackets 21.

The back 2 is slidingly mounted in guideways on the end frames A, and acounterbalancing mechanism is connected to said back so as to assist theoperator in moving same upwardly when it is desired to open thedavenport. The end frames A are provided with substantiallychannelshaped guideways 30, as shown in Fig. 9, which re ceive endplates 31 on the back 2, and flexible members 32, such, for example, aspieces of rope or cable, are connected to said back and to the endframes. These ropes pass over pulleys 32 on the end frames A, andcounter-balancing weights 33 are hung on loops in said ropes so as tocounterbalance the weight of the back 2, each weight being provided witha pulley 34 through which the rope passes.

Instead of rigidly connecting the legs 6 to the free end of the frame 3,as shown in Fig. 2, said legs can be provided with substantiallykey-hole-shaped slots 35 through which pins 36 on the frame pass, asshown in Figs. 10 and 11, said slots being so disposed that the legs 6will lie parallel with the side pieces of the frame 3 when the davenportis folded and at right angles to said side pieces when the davenport isopen, the pins lying in the contracted portions of the slots 35 and thussecurely locking the legs in their open position, as shown in Fig. 11.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a folding davenport or other article of furniture, a pivotallymounted element that is adapted to be turned over, a vertically movableelement that lies under said pivotally mounted element when the articleis closed, a mechanism for raising said vertically movable element,devices rigidly connected to said pivotally mounted element forimparting movement to said mechanism when the pivotally mounted elementis turned over, and cooperating means on said devices and on saidmechanism for locking said vertically movable element in its ele-' vatedposition.

2. In a folding structure or article, a pivotally mounted frame, avertically movable frame that lies under said pivotally mounted framewhen the article is closed, cam plates on said pivotally mounted frame,toggle mechanism for raising and lowering said vertically movable frame,levers operated by said cam plates for actuating said toggle mechanism,and cooperating means on said plates for locking said toggle mechanism.

3. In a folding davenport or other article of furniture, a pivotallymounted frame that is adapted to be turned over, a vertically movableframe that lies under same when the davenport is closed, togglemechanism for raising and lowering said vertically movable frame, camplates on said p' *otally mounted frame, levers connected to said togglemechanism and provided with substantially key-holeshaped slots, fulcrumstuds for said levers having non-circular-shaped parts that lie in saidslots, and means for shifting said levers relatively to said studs whensaid pivotally mounted frame is actuated.

4. In a folding davenport or other article of furniture, a pivotallymounted frame that is adapted to be turned over, a vertically movableframe that lies under same when the davenport is closed, togglemechanism for raising and lowering said vertically movable frame, camplates on said pivotally mounted frame, levers connected to said togglemechanism and provided with substantially key-holeshaped slots, fulcrumstuds for said levers having non-circular-shaped parts that lie in saidslots, and cam faces on said cam plates that cooperate with pins on saidlevers to. shift said levers relatively to their fulcrum studs and locksaid levers and the mechanism controlled by same.

5. In a folding davenport or similar device, end frames, castings onsaid end frames, a pivotally mounted frame provided with cam plates thatare journaled on studs on said castings, a vertically movable frame thatlies under said pivotally mounted frame when the davenport is closed, avertically disposed guide on said casting, members on said verticallymovable frame that embrace said guides, a toggle mechanism connected tosaid vertically movable frame and to said end castings, levers shiftablymounted on the studs on which said cam plates are journaled foractuating said toggle mechanism, pins on said levers, and notches andcam faces on said cam plates that cooperate with said plns.

6. In a folding davenport or similar ar ticle, a pivotally mounted seatframe, a flexible curtain arranged below said seat frame at the front ofthe davenport and connected to said seat frame, and means for taking upthe slack in said curtain when said seat frame is turned over.

7. In a folding davenport or similar article, a pivotally mounted seatframe, a lower cross-piece at the front of the davenport, a flexiblecurtain connected at its upper edge to said seat frame and at its loweredge to said cross-piece, and means for automatically turning saidcross-piece into such a position that the curtain will not wrinkle whenthe seat frame is turned over.

8. In a folding davenport or similar article, a pivotally mounted seatframe, a

lower cross-piece at the front of the davenport, a flexible curtainconnected at its upper edge to said seat frame and at its lower edge tosaid cross-piece, means for automatically turning said cross-piece intosuch a position that the curtain will not wrinkle when the seat frame isturned over, and means for holding the curtain taut or stretched whenthe davenport is closed.

9. In a folding davenport or similar article, a pivotally mounted seatframe, a piv otally mounted lower cross-piece at the front of thedavenport, a flexible curtain conneeted at its upper edge to said seatframe and at its lower edge to said cross-piece, levers for oscillatingsaid cross-piece when the seat frame is turned over, and means on theseat frame for actuating said levers and holding them locked in positionwhen the davenport is closed.

10. A davenport or similar article comprising end frames, a verticallymovable back arranged in guideways on said end frames, acounterbalancing device that tends to move said back upwardly, apivotally mounted seat frame, a vertically movable frame that lies undersaid seat frame when the davenport is closed, and means controlled bythe movement of said seat frame for raising and lowering said verticallymovable frame.

11. A davenport or similar article comprising end frames, a verticallymovable back arranged in guideways on said end frames, acounterbalancing device that tends to move said back upwardly, apivotally mounted seat frame, a vertically movable frame that lies undersaid seat frame when the davenport is closed, means controlled by themovement of said seat frame for raising and lowering said verticallymovable frame, an oscillating lower cross-piece at the front of thedavenport, a flexible curtain connected to said cross-piece and to theseat frame, and means for actuating said crosspiece in such a mannerthat said curtain will notwrinkle when the davenport is open.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in the presence oftwo witnesses, this twentieth day of January, 1911.

GUILFORD WV. HENRY.

WVitnesses WVELLs L. GHURoH, GEORGE BAKEWELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

